Chapter 6 - THE BROTHER WHO NEVER CAME HOME
Dominic's brother had been named Gabriel Russo.
He was five years younger.
Funny.
Reckless.
Brilliant with numbers.
And determined to build a legitimate business outside the family's criminal world.
Seven years earlier, Gabriel had invested in a shipping company.
Harborline Freight Systems.
Chloe stared at Dominic across the library table.
“My father knew him?”
Dominic nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
He looked down.
“Because Gabriel died.”
Chloe swallowed.
“How?”
Dominic's jaw tightened.
“A boating accident.”
She stared at the photograph.
“Was it an accident?”
Silence.
Then Dominic said:
“I've never been certain.”
Gabriel had discovered suspicious financial activity.
Money moving through shell companies.
Contracts altered after signing.
Payments routed through foreign accounts.
He'd planned to confront the company's executives.
Then he disappeared during a weekend trip.
His boat was found drifting near Long Island.
His body was recovered three days later.
The official investigation concluded he had drowned.
Dominic never believed it.
Chloe looked at the flash drive.
“My father was investigating the same company.”
“Yes.”
“And now he's dead.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
She stared.
“Did you know Liam was involved?”
“I suspected.”
Her expression hardened.
“How long?”
“Several months.”
Chloe stood.
“You suspected Liam was stealing from you, and you let me marry him?”
Dominic rose.
“I didn't know he was planning to use you.”
She looked at him.
“But you knew he was dangerous.”
He swallowed.
“I knew he was dishonest.”
Chloe's voice broke.
“You should have warned me.”
Dominic didn't argue.
“Yes.”
She stared.
He continued.
“I should have.”
For the first time since entering his car, Chloe felt anger toward him.
Real anger.
Not because he had lied.
Because he'd withheld information that might have changed her life.
She stepped back.
“I need space.”
Dominic nodded.
“Of course.”
She looked at him.
“And I need you to stop deciding what I should know.”
His expression changed.
Then he said:
“Agreed.”
That evening, Chloe moved into a furnished apartment arranged through her attorney.
She paid the deposit herself using funds from her savings.
Dominic didn't interfere.
He sent one message.
I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Gabriel. You deserved the truth.
Chloe read it.
Then set down her phone.
May you like
For the first time in weeks, she slept alone.
And for the first time since the wedding, she began deciding what came next.
